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editorial
. 2021 Aug 31;52(8):3758–3768. doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-05236-w

Table 2.

A novel screening tool for insomnia in children and adolescents (modified DIMS) (Bruni et al., 1996)

Part A: Insomnia Diagnosis: Child’s sleep habits in the last 3 months Score
Date • Child’s name Age
The Child goes to bed reluctantly

• Never (1)

• Occasionally (1–2 per month or less (2)

• Sometimes (once or twice per week) (3)

• Often (3–5 times per week (4)

• Always (daily) (5)

The child has difficulty getting to sleep at night

• Never (1)

• Occasionally (1–2 per month or less (2)

• Sometimes (once or twice per week) (3)

• Often (3–5 times per week (4)

• Always (daily) (5)

The child feels anxious or afraid when falling asleep

• Never (1)

• Occasionally (1–2 per month or less (2)

• Sometimes (once or twice per week) (3)

• Often (3–5 times per week (4)

• Always (daily) (5)

The child wakes up more than twice per night

• Never (1)

• Occasionally (1–2 per month or less (2)

• Sometimes (once or twice per week) (3)

• Often (3–5 times per week (4)

• Always (daily) (5)

After waking up in the night, the child has difficulty to fall asleep again

• Never (1)

• Occasionally (1–2 per month or less (2)

• Sometimes (once or twice per week) (3)

• Often (3–5 times per week (4)

• Always (daily) (5)

How many hours of sleep does your child get on most nights?

• 9–11 h (1)

• 8–9 h (2)

• 7–8 h (3)

• 5–7 h (4)

• Less than 5 h (5)

How long, after going to bed, does your child usually fall asleep?

• Less than 15 min (1)

• 15–30 min (2)

• 30–45 min (3)

• 45–60 min (4)

• More than 60 min (5)

Total Score (sum of subscale scores)

Score 10 or lower: unlikely to have insomnia

Score 11–16: at risk of having insomnia

Score 17 or higher: insomnia

Part B: Discussion/Referral to sleep specialist: Score

The Child shows one or more of the following:

• startles or jerks parts of the body while falling asleep and/or while asleep

• often changes position

• kicks the covers off the bed

• shows repetitive actions such as rocking or head banging while falling asleep

• Never (1)

• Occasionally (1–2 per month or less (2)

• Sometimes (once or twice per week) (3)

• Often (3–5 times per week) (4)

• Always (daily) (5)

The child snores loudly and/or has difficulty breathing during the night

• Never (1)

• Occasionally (1–2 per month or less (2)

• Sometimes (once or twice per week) (3)

• Often (3–5 times per week (4)

• Always (daily) (5)

The Child shows one or more of the following:

wakes up from sleep screaming or confused

sleep walks

has recurrent nightmares

• Never (1)

• Occasionally (1–2 per month or less (2)

• Sometimes (once or twice per week) (3)

• Often (3–5 times per week (4)

• Always (daily) (5)

Score 3 or higher on any item: consider discussion and or referral to sleep specialist Number of scores ≥ 3